BRICS

BRICS is a bloc of major emerging economies — originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — that has expanded in recent years to include additional members and has increasingly positioned itself as an alternative to Western-dominated multilateral institutions. Its summits, trade frameworks, and proposals for a non-dollar settlement currency have made it a focal point of discussion among states seeking to hedge against Western economic and political pressure.

For Armenia, BRICS has emerged as a topic of debate in the context of the country’s foreign policy realignment. Some Armenian political forces argue that BRICS membership or association could provide economic alternatives to both Russian dependency and the conditions attached to Western integration. Others argue that associating with a Russia- and China-led bloc would undermine Armenia’s aspirations for EU alignment and deepen its entanglement with a sanctions-ridden Russian economy.

Groong covers BRICS in the context of Armenian foreign policy choices, the competing global connectivity frameworks being promoted in the South Caucasus, and the broader question of whether Armenia can pursue meaningful economic diversification outside the Western orbit.

Pietro Shakarian - Iran War, Armenia and Russia, June Parliamentary Elections | Ep 529, Apr 4, 2026 [EP529]

Posted on Saturday, Apr 4, 2026 | Category: Armenia, history, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Israel | Series: COG

Groong Links:

Guest:

Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

The Iran War and Its Global Impacts
Armenia-Russia Relations
Parliamentary Elections in Armenia

Episode 529 | Recorded on April 3, 2026

#IranIsraelWar #IsraelIranConflict #IsraelConflict #Armenia #MiddleEastCrisis #ArmeniaElections #PietroShakarian #TRIPP

Pietro Shakarian - Iran War, Armenia and Russia, June Parliamentary Elections | Ep 529, Apr 4, 2026 [EP529]

Posted on Saturday, Apr 4, 2026 | Category: Armenia, history, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Israel

Groong Links:

Guest:

Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

The Iran War and Its Global Impacts
Armenia-Russia Relations
Parliamentary Elections in Armenia

Episode 529 | Recorded on April 3, 2026

#IranIsraelWar #IsraelIranConflict #IsraelConflict #Armenia #MiddleEastCrisis #ArmeniaElections #PietroShakarian #TRIPP

Transcript: Pietro Shakarian - Iran War, Armenia and Russia, June Parliamentary Elections | Ep 529, Apr 4, 2026 [EP529]

Posted on Saturday, Apr 4, 2026 | Category: Armenia, history, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Israel, Transcript

Dr. Pietro Shakarian joined us to discuss the state of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, the shrinking chances for a diplomatic off-ramp, and how the conflict is shifting wider Eurasian politics. The conversation then turned to Armenia, including the likely freezing of TRIPP amid the Iran war, Pashinyan’s contentious visit to Moscow, and the deeper low point in Armenia-Russia relations. The final section focused on Armenia’s June parliamentary elections, public sentiment toward Pashinyan, fears over election integrity, and the evolving opposition landscape.